Nairobi, Kenya | Full Time

About the Organization

CLASP serves at the epicentre of collaborative, ambitious efforts to mitigate climate change and in the global movement for clean energy access, through appliance efficiency. Our mission is to improve the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. We work hand-in-hand with governments, experts, industry, consumers, donor organizations and others to propel policies and markets toward the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive appliances possible.

CLASP has worked in more than 100 countries since our inception in 1999. CLASP has offices in Washington, DC (USA), Nairobi (Kenya), and New Delhi (India). We also have teams in Europe, China, and Indonesia. We are mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. See our Team Page to learn more about us.

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access Team

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access program supports ambitious efforts to increase global access to clean energy through appliance and equipment energy efficiency. We work in partnership with key stakeholders in South Asia, East and West Africa, China — with support from a diverse group of funders.

Our team helps build healthy markets for off-grid solar products by driving innovation and sales in early-stage product markets, surfacing data and research on product performance, market trends, and consumer preferences, establishing technical foundations for consumer protection, and aligning sector stakeholders across the value-chain.

From advancing the off-grid solar technologies, bringing power to energy-impoverished people, to building climate resilience of underserved communities, CLASP’s CEA programs increase uptake of affordable, low-impact, high-quality appliances.

As our global portfolio continues to grow, we are expanding our team to help us execute our portfolio of clean energy access initiatives. CLASP’s energy access programs include the Efficiency for Access Coalition and its flagship Low-Energy Inclusive Appliances program, the Global LEAP Awards, Verasol Quality Assurance, Productive Use Appliance Financing Facility, among other initiatives in the pipeline. Learn more about our programs.

About the role

The Sr. Associate will be a key member of the CLASP Africa program team and will be responsible for supporting the design and implementation of CLASP’s strategy, plans, and deliverables for the Clean Energy Access program. The Sr. Associate will work closely with colleagues as well as external partners and stakeholders to support the development and execution of several program goals and objectives within the Efficiency for Access ecosystem and will perform a wide range of activities including project management, stakeholder engagement and relationship development, program and policy planning, business development, and market and technology assessments.

The Sr. Associate will be based in CLASP’s Nairobi office, and will work collaboratively with CLASP’s Clean Energy Access teams in other global offices (as needed) , as well as a wide network of international partners and program stakeholders in Africa, including government agencies, funding institutions, program partners, appliance manufacturers and distributors, and local and international NGOs and companies to help plan and execute our global portfolio of market development programs and projects.

The Sr. Associate will play key roles in several projects commensurate with their knowledge and experience. They are expected to spend a majority of their time working on the Productive Use Financing Facility, an innovative results-based financing program scaling the productive use equipment market. The Sr. Associate will play a key role in the following areas:

• Project Management: Lead the operations of the Facility ensuring alignment with organizational and client requirements. Develop timelines, tools and adapt to changing operational and environmental conditions and/or demands, with minimum supervision.
• Strategy Development and Implementation: Collaborate with senior staff to develop and implement strategies with are aligned with broader CLASP and CEA goals. Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships to enhance our financing portfolio. Oversee the contracting process and ensure high-quality partnership outputs.
• Stakeholder Engagement, Thought Leadership, and Knowledge Dissemination: Represent CLASP at sector forums, conferences, and workshops. Cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders for partnership opportunities. Develop learnings documents and other relevant content to position CLASP as a thought leader. Disseminate information through various channels.
• Performance Evaluation and Reporting: Assess project performance against established indicators. Generate and present reports to internal and external stakeholders. Advise teams and management on project performance, proposing/recommending solutions to maintain and improve delivery.
• Team Supervision and Mentorship: Provide guidance and mentorship to direct reports for professional development.

Who You Are

• Manage cohesive processes: You develop and implement strategies along with your supervisor. You execute multiple projects, establish success indicators and evaluate project performance against these parameters.
• Align your teams and stakeholders by communicating: You advise teams and management on project performance, proposing/recommending solutions to maintain and improve delivery. You also assess the requirements of clients and partners to effectively align deliverables to changing demands.
• An Effective Collaborator: You’ve successfully worked across cultural lines on a dispersed team, and you have the ability to operate in complex situations. You can easily gain trust from team members and are known for supporting them to ensure they are set up for success. You’re not afraid to ask questions.
• Flexible: You can manage a diverse set of team needs and aren’t afraid to step outside your job description or comfort zone to help the team reach its goals. You’re comfortable with shifting schedules and don’t expect every day to go “as planned.”
• A Humble Teammate: Nothing is beneath or above you. You are quick to always lend a hand or two! You are able to earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects and large strategic goals.
• An Abundant Thinker: You believe that we are living in a world of abundant resources and that the right team of partners can make improbable things happen. You bring relentless curiosity and creativity to every task, project, and engagement.
• Mission-oriented: You believe in the mission of CLASP and are passionate about global access to clean energy, climate change, energy efficiency, and creating a more sustainable world.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience, specifically in the off-grid clean energy sector or analogous sectors preferred.
• Excellent data analysis is key – this role will include managing multiple datasets and require great attention to detail.
• Experience working in off-grid, rural, or emerging market product distribution and/or supply chains is preferred but not required.
• Experience managing delivery of innovative financial projects such as subsidies, grants etc. in the energy sector will be a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with diverse project stakeholders.
• An ability to establish, build, and continually reinforce confidence in a variety of internal and external stakeholder groups and constituencies will be essential to success.
• Entrepreneurial approach to design and execution of long-term initiatives.
• Outstanding communication skills in both written and spoken English and proven ability to convey technical content in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to translate complex technical information to industry, policy, and investor audiences required.
• Strong time management and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time under deadline while managing other colleagues with flexibility, composure and humor.

Why this role is compelling

You will be exposed to an unusually wide range of people and issues in the climate and energy sectors, as well as the internal infrastructure and operations of a global NGO.

A successful candidate will develop and grow a broad set of professional skills, honing them to the level of excellence in a demanding and fast-paced environment. You will work with, learn from, and grow alongside a high-performing and diverse team in which everyone is committed to the development of themselves and others.

This role provides the opportunity for travel locally and internationally, about 20% of the time. Travel will likely include Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the U.S.

Compensation

CLASP offers a competitive salary, benchmarked annually against other nonprofit organizations. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including fully paid health insurance for individuals and competitive rates for families and dependents. Additional benefits include unlimited leave, time off for regional holidays, and a collaborative work environment that supports professional development, wellness, and flexible telecommuting options.

The salary range for this role is $36,379.00 – $63,663.00, with compensation based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The Application Process:

To be considered for a position, interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter indicating your desired position and salary requirements by using this link. This position will remain open until filled.